Chapter 275: Chapter275:Elemental Law
Yet, unbeknownst to him, Lovins was not present at the Lord\'s Manor.
At the former Gwaihir estate, Lovins cautiously escorted Cornelius and a stunning woman inside, respectfully stating, "Your Highness Cornelius, upon receiving news of the Gwaihir family\'s troubles, I hastened here to investigate. Following my inquiry, I have also erected a barrier to preserve the state of affairs within the Gwaihir family."
Cornelius nodded in acknowledgment.
He tossed a vial of Potion to Lovins, saying, "Well done. This is the Temple No. 3 Potion, which will elevate your soul consciousness, transforming you into a true novice deity. However, the downside is that you will be unable to progress further in your lifetime."
Lovins gratefully accepted it, exclaiming, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
He added, "Becoming a novice deity is sufficiently rewarding. I dare not wish for more."
Cornelius internally scoffed.
Cornelius wholly disbelieved Lovins\'s words.
Nonetheless, he refrained from exposing the insincerity and remarked, "Lovins, as long as you remain loyal to me and are willing to serve, I can speak to the Beast Temple on your behalf, granting you the opportunity to enter."
Upon hearing this promise, Lovins was overwhelmed with excitement, exclaiming, "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Yet whether his gratitude was genuine remained a mystery.
With a casual gesture, Cornelius said, "You may leave now, Lovins."
"Yes!" Lovins replied, then exited the realm of the Gwaihir family.
When Lovins departed, Cornelius strode into the hall, pulled a chair towards him, and took a seat. The air still bore traces of decay, yet Cornelius paid it no heed. He drew the beautiful woman beside him into his embrace, unabashedly probing beneath the smooth fabric of her gown.
The enchanting lady offered no resistance, merely smiling as she inquired, "Your Highness Cornelius, is the Origins Mirror truly as wondrous as they say?"
Upon hearing the words "Origins Mirror" Cornelius instinctively paused, a scowl appearing on his lips, his irritation flaring. With a sudden force, he tore away the garments clinging to the beautiful woman, his voice laced with fury as he declared, "Karina, from now on, you shall not mention the Origins Mirror in my presence without my permission!"
"Yes, Your Highness Cornelius." she replied.
Her expression shifting slightly as she endured his rudeness and began to serve him with utmost caution.
Yet, Cornelius\'s anger still simmered.
He muttered curses under his breath, "Damn that Druid! I have become the candidate Divine Son of the Beast Temple, and yet, as your own son, you refuse to grant me the Origins Mirror! Now that you are dead, the Origins Mirror is lost as well!"
Karina quickly lowered her gaze, her expression a blend of complexity.
Though she possessed formidable strength compared to ordinary individuals, she was merely a handmaiden to Cornelius.
Her power was not born from arduous training but rather obtained through the consumption of temple potions, relegating her to a position of lowly status within the temple.
However, her commendable skills had won Cornelius\'s favor.
That was the reason why she had the opportunity to accompany him upon his departure from the temple.
Before departing, Karina intuitively grasped that Cornelius\'s true intent was not vengeance, but rather the pursuit of the elusive Origins Mirror. While she remained oblivious to its nature and significance, Cornelius\'s current demeanor suggested it to be an extraordinary treasure.
As Karina pondered this revelation, an abrupt wave of pain seized her.
Cornelius\'s hand gripped her chest, leaving an unmistakable imprint upon her snow-white bosom, and with the subsequent crack of several whips, she was engulfed by excruciating agony.
This was but a manifestation of Cornelius\'s peculiar proclivities.
Karina was acutely aware of the origins of such oddities. To attain unparalleled power, Cornelius had irrevocably renounced the ability to procreate.
Yet, this was a subject she never dared to broach.
If the mere mention of the Origins Mirror ignited Cornelius\'s fury, then alluding to his affliction would surely result in her being torn asunder and fed to the wild Fierce Beasts.
...
Meanwhile, within the Lord\'s Manor.
Enzo now stood at the pinnacle of Level 9, far surpassing the guards stationed there. Particularly in his shadowy state, the guards were all the more oblivious to his presence.
Thus, he effortlessly infiltrated the Lord\'s Manor.
"Strange, I sense no trace of Lovins. Could it be that he is absent from the Lord\'s Manor?"
Enzo cautiously extended his mental prowess, a tinge of surprise flickering within him.
He had intended to gauge Lovins\'s true strength tonight, having only encountered a mere phantom of him previously.
To his dismay, Lovins was indeed not within the manor.
"Since he is absent..."
Enzo\'s gaze flickered, yet he had no intention of departing.
He persisted in maintaining his shadowy guise, wandering about the Lord\'s Manor, ultimately discovering a location heavily guarded and fortified with multiple layers of barriers.
Such places are typically of utmost significance.
Moreover, Enzo overheard the captain of the guards issuing a reprimand.
"Everyone, stay alert! The treasury absolutely must not be compromised. Not even a minuscule insect is allowed to enter. Otherwise, prepare to face punishment!"
The treasury!
The captain\'s admonishment ignited a spark of interest in Enzo.
As the lord of Ambera, Lovins was exceedingly affluent, and his treasury must surely harbor a wealth of treasures.
Generally, the majority of supernatural beings prefer to safeguard their valuable possessions within personal spatial storage devices, carrying them wherever they go. However, certain unique items or extraordinary treasures cannot be housed within such spatial equipment and necessitate the construction of a specialized treasury for their safekeeping.
Clearly, the treasury of the Lord\'s Manor was one such case.
This prospect intrigued Enzo.
Remaining in his shadowy form, he did not alarm the guards, but as he approached, he unleashed his formidable mental prowess, striking against their feeble consciousnesses, rendering them unconscious. He then forcefully breached the barriers, the entire process unfolding with astonishing ease.
A moment later, Enzo pushed open the treasury door and stepped inside.
To his disappointment, however, the treasury contained very few items—merely some rare minerals and a handful of tomes. The only find that justified his visit was a cluster of Elder Deity crystals nestled in a corner.
He swiftly transported these treasures into his small world.
"The truly valuable items must be in Lovins\' possession..."
Enzo muttered, before departing from the treasury.
Upon exiting the Lord\'s Manor, he sought a secluded spot and once again entered the small world, discovering Bookstaver and Carol diligently counting the items he had discarded.
Upon noticing his arrival, Bookstaver, straining under the weight of a gray stone, wobbled toward him.
"Great Master, your most loyal servant, Bookstaver, humbly requests that you grant me this Chaos Gray Stone."
Enzo grasped the stone with one hand, curiosity piqued. "Chaos Gray Stone—a rather peculiar name. What purpose does it serve?"
Bookstaver hurriedly clarified, "I was forged from this very stone."
He continued, "I must consume such materials to evolve and better assist you, my Master."
Enzo marveled at Bookstaver\'s revelation.
He inquired further, "Does it possess any other capabilities?"
Bookstaver candidly replied, "Indeed, the Chaos Gray Stone holds chaotic properties. When infused with Life Water during the forging process, it greatly enhances the likelihood of imbuing the crafted product with intelligence."
"Much like yourself?" Enzo asked.
Bookstaver vigorously shook the tome that constituted his form.
Witnessing this, Enzo promptly tossed the Chaos Gray Stone back to Bookstaver, wishing to avoid the emergence of another Bookstaver.
He then selected the Elder Deity crystals before making his way toward the nearby World Tree.
The World Tree had undergone remarkable transformation, not only becoming more robust but also emanating an extraordinary aura. The fruits it bore radiated a rich elemental essence. However, Enzo could distinctly sense that these fruits were not yet fully mature, as if something essential was still lacking.
Yet, this was not the crux of the matter.
"To absorb these Elder Deity crystals with the World Tree…"
Enzo murmured softly, his palm pressed against the trunk of The World Tree.
In an instant, Enzo\'s soul entered The World Tree, and he felt the world around him transform completely.
He beheld the myriad elements of the small world, perceiving the chaotic expanse of the Starry Sky beyond. In that moment, he sensed a distant calling, akin to a summons from the Protoss…
Moreover, Enzo became aware of an even more extraordinary presence.
It transcended elemental forces, defying the knowledge he once held.
It resembled the Realm abilities he commanded, yet it was far more profound—a will that could not be contravened, as if governed by immutable laws, unalterable and irreversibly fixed.
This was—The Law!
Through the perspective of The World Tree, Enzo comprehended this existence.
It was a superior entity, fundamentally distinct from elemental power.
If mastering elemental forces was akin to learning how to kindle a fire, then grasping Elemental Law meant understanding how to conjure flames from the void. The former required specific combustible materials, while the latter resembled a dominion over all things, capable of manifesting fire from nothingness.
This transgressed the basic tenets of the Starry Sky!
Such abilities were undoubtedly beyond the reach of a Level 9 supernatural being, yet now, through the avatar of The World Tree, Enzo was able to wield them.